Agriculture

The Wee Waa District is a major producer of a variety of agricultural commodities including cotton, wheat, beef cattle and sheep. These industries demand much support in terms of supplies, equipment, expert advice and labour provision. The interdependent relationships between farmers, graziers and business organizations provides the economic basis upon which the Wee Waa Community thrives.

9 News 3 February 2016

Protesters opposing a coal seam gas wastewater plant in northern NSW aren't giving up their cause any time soon.

Around 30 anti-CSG demonstrators blocked access on Wednesday morning to the Santos Leewood Water treatment plant in the Pilliga forest south of Narrabri, which will support 850 CSG wells above the Great Artesian Basin.

Sixth-generation farmer Neil Kennedy from Coonamble has chained himself by the neck to the site's front gate, despite heavy rain turning the ground to mud.

"We're going to keep on protesting and doing what we can, fighting this thing," Mr Kennedy told AAP from a mobile phone.

The 73-year-old admitted he was "getting a bit old for this", but he doesn't want to see the land destroyed for future generations.

"I've got 13 grandchildren, and they're good little blokes and I'd like to think they've got a future out here," he said.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/02/03/13/05/protesters-continue-to-block-nsw-csg-site#J3zK3rJ5EerCduql.99

Feb. 2, 2016, 8:30 p.m. Northern Daily Leader

ANTI-coal seam gas groups have hit back at claims the majority of people in the Narrabri Shire support Santos’ operations.

The Narrabri Chamber of Commerce told The Leader on Monday the “vast majority” of the shire was pro-Santos.

However, Lock The Gate and People For The Plains said their research showed the opposite.

People For The Plains spokeswoman Sarah Ciesiolka said they had conducted door-to-door community surveys.

Of those asked, 96 per cent of people were opposed to coal seam gas (CSG).

“The surveys have conclusively demonstrated Santos has no social licence to operate here,” Ms Ciesiolka said.

“Despite what Santos, Yes2Gas and the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce would like people to believe, there is wide-scale community rejection of the CSG industry in North West NSW, and Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project in particular.”